Window mounted photovoltaic system with brackets

Abstract

The invention is a photovoltaic system mounted with brackets to the inside surface of a window. The brackets are adhesively attached to the window. The system comprises photovoltaic modules on a substrate along with a sheet of material which is visually similar to the substrate which are both attached by the brackets to the interior surface of a window, facing towards the outside of the building. The light incident side of the substrate with photovoltaic cells faces the exterior of the building facing the sun. Electrical connectors are integrated into the substrate and connected to solar cells within the photovoltaic modules, thus providing electrical connection of the system to external electrical devices or electrical systems near the window that require power.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photovoltaic system comprising:
 a photovoltaic module comprising:
 a generally planar substrate having a first and second major sides; 
 two or more photovoltaic cells with one side on the first major side of the substrate; 
 one or more brackets adhesively attached to an interior surface of a window with a layer of contact adhesive, wherein the one or more brackets are configured to mechanically engage the photovoltaic module to thereby hold the photovoltaic module in place with a light incident side facing the interior surface of the window. 
   
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , further including a release coating covering the contact adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein a total surface area of the first side of the substrate is larger than a photovoltaically active area of the one or more photovoltaic cells, thus creating a photovoltaically non-active border area on the first side. 
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein the border area is aligned under a retaining portion of the brackets allowing the photovoltaically active area of the photovoltaic cells to not be shaded by the brackets. 
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein an insulated strip of material is attached to the border area of the substrate, the strip being compressed when the photovoltaic module is placed into the brackets and thus insulating the area between the photovoltaic module and window interior surface from air flow, dust particles and any other intrusions that may inhibit the function of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module is comprised of a flexible thin-film solar material having the ability to bend up to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module is comprised of a semi-flexible material having the ability to bend up to 5 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module is held tight to and is in full contact with the window interior surface. 
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brackets has a hole in it allowing an electrical connection to be made to the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein a base section of the bracket is thick enough to create a space between the interior surface of the window and the window facing surface of the photovoltaic module, thus creating an open area allowing air to flow between the module and the window. 
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical engagement of the photovoltaic module to the brackets is comprised of at least one of: snaps, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, magnets, magnetic strips, metal plates, screw type, sliding connectors, and channels. 
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic module further comprises a mechanical attachment member partially embedded in the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the brackets further comprise a channel opening that is wider at an insertion point of the photovoltaic module and more narrow at a position where the photovoltaic module is fully inserted, thus creating a friction fit that holds the photovoltaic module in place once it has been fully inserted. 
     
     
         14 . The invention of  claim 1 , further including a first terminal and a second terminal which are in electrical communication with the photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 14 , wherein the terminals are disposed in a first electrical connector which is supported on the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The invention of  claim 15 , wherein at least one electrical conductor with a second electrical connector is plugged into the first electrical connector, wherein the conductor is extended to an electrical device or circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein the conductor is extended to a motorized window opener; wherein the photovoltaic module provides power to the motorized window opener. 
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein the conductor is extended to a motorized window covering; wherein the photovoltaic module provides power to the motorized window covering. 
     
     
         19 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the window is a sliding door with at least one section of transparent glazing material. 
     
     
         20 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic system further comprises a sheet of material that looks visually similar to the substrate; whereby the sheet of material is deployed adjacent to the substrate by attachment to the interior surface of the window with contact adhesive.